The Air Force’s Space Based Infrared System Program Office “for the first time ever” gave a coalition partner—Australia—access to space-based infrared data. The data actually came from DOD’s ancient Defense Support Program satellites. It was sent from California to Australia, where the Australians used their own gear to process the data and deliver “real-time” missile warnings back to Dahlgren, Va., site of the operations center for the Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration Interoperability Trial. The Aussies were highly pleased, given that they do not have space assets of their own.
Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. provided a keynote address at AFA's virtual Air, Space & Cyber Conference on Sept. 14, 2020. Here is a transcript of his speech and the following interview with Air Force Magazine Editor-in-Chief Tobias Naegele.